Fairfield, Cardinal, Pekin and Van Buren community school districts have canceled school today.

Maharishi School has canceled preschool through 12th grade classes today.

All Indian Hills Community College locations closed at noon.

Wednesday Wild Ones, held Wednesday mornings at World of Life Church, is canceled today.

Several preschool and pre-kindergarten programs have been canceled today: Community Child Care Center; Jefferson County Headstart; Mother's Day Out at Immanuel Lutheran Church; St. Mary's Catholic Church.

The Fairfield Senior Citizen Center is closed and will not serve meals today.

The Fairfield Eagles Club will not be serving lunch today.

Several churches have canceled youth activities and services this evening: Fairfield Foursquare Church; First Baptist; First United Methodist Church; St. Mary Catholic Church.

Hay Bales 4-H Club has canceled its meeting scheduled for this evening.

Weight Watchers will not be meeting today.

The Community Lecture on Sleep Apnea at Ottumwa Regional Health Center has been cancelled tonight due to current weather conditions. This lecture will be rescheduled.

Noah's Ark Animal Shelter is closed today.

The Lord's Cupboard is closed today.

The Fairfield Elks Lodge will be closed tonight.

The Bargain Box is closing at 2 p.m. Cambridge Investment Research also closed early today.

Fed-Ex is not picking up or delivering in Fairfield today.

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Updates from the Iowa Department of Transportation

Travelers Should Be Prepared When Traveling in Frigid Temperatures

AMES, Iowa – Jan. 30, 2013; 3 p.m. update – A mechanical breakdown or sliding off the road is frustrating enough, but it can be extremely dangerous when the temperatures plummet. If you don’t already have emergency supplies in your vehicle, now is the time to put them in.

How many times have you taken a short trip to a friend’s house or the store and not taken your coat? Imagine what would happen if your vehicle went off the road and the engine would not restart. How would you stay warm? How would you survive until emergency crews arrived?

The National Weather Services is forecasting very cold wind chill values, as low as minus 15, for this evening. A northwest wind 10 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph, are to be expected. The frigid temperatures and slick road conditions put travelers at risk.

Even the most basic of supplies carried in your vehicle can help you survive – coat, hat, boots, blankets, water and a phone to call for help. And don’t forget to have enough supplies for everyone in your vehicle.

The most important thing to remember if you have a breakdown or accident is to never leave your vehicle; even when it seems like a long time has passed. Your vehicle provides shelter, protects you from being struck by other vehicles and allows emergency personnel to find you.

Multiple Traffic Incidents Being Reported

AMES, IOWA – Jan. 30, 2013; 1:15 p.m. update – Roads, bridges, overpasses and ramps remain slick in many locations in Iowa. Numerous accidents, blockages, backups and jackknifed trucks have been reported throughout the day. Some incidents can take considerable time to clear.

Of particular concern this afternoon is the persistent blowing snow over east-west roadways in open areas, which is causing glazing of roadway surfaces. Patchy slick spots can be encountered at any time. Traveling under these conditions requires:

Drivers to give their full attention to the driving task.

Reduced travel speeds.

Staying back from the vehicles ahead as they could make erratic, sudden maneuvers.

Everyone in the vehicle to wear seat belts at all times.

Patience, give yourself added time to get to your destination and don’t be the cause of an accident by driving too fast for conditions or cutting in and out in traffic.

The heaviest concentration of precipitation at this time is centered on an area that generally extends from Marshalltown east to Cedar Rapids and Iowa City; and from Ottumwa north to Waterloo. Traffic will be more difficult in this area. This includes parts of I-80, I-380 and U.S. 218. A winter storm warning remains in effect until 6 p.m. for the eastern third of the state.

Travel Treacherous in East Central and Northeast Iowa

AMES, Iowa – Jan. 30, 2013; 11 a.m. update – The Iowa State Patrol has issued a "no travel is advised" statement in association with roadways in the northeast and parts of east central Iowa. This includes major highways such as I-80, I-380, U.S. 20, U.S. 63. U.S. 151 and U.S. 218. It also affects cities in the region such as Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, Marshalltown, Waterloo, Dubuque and Decorah.

Snow is continuing to fall in all but the western third of the state and strong winds persist statewide. The Iowa DOT’s road weather information system is reporting that air and pavement temperatures remain below freezing; and the wind is gusting from 24 to 39 mph. This is reducing visibility, especially in the open, rural areas. The wind is also causing ice to glaze on the east-west roadways.

Conditions Improve in Western Third of Iowa; Remain Hazardous in Central/East Central

AMES,Iowa– Jan. 30, 2013 - 9 a.m. update – Precipitation ends in western third of Iowa, helping to improve travel conditions in that part of the state. Most of the snow is occurring east of a line stretching from Storm Lake, Denison, Atlantic and Creston. Visibility in rural, open areas is still reduced at times due to the blowing snow.

Travel is not being advised at this time in east centralIowawhere snowfall is heavy and strong winds persist. This includes parts of I-80 and I-380; and cities of Knoxville, Marshalltown, Cedar Rapids and Iowa City.

Monitor travel conditions throughout the day by visiting http://511ia.orgor calling 511 inIowaor 800-288-1047 nationwide. Follow the Iowa DOT on Twitter @iowadot or @statewide511.

That’s why the Iowa Department of Transportation is urging drivers to be part of Iowa’s traffic information social media network on Twitter and Facebook. During your next break or fuel stop, take a moment to share your observations and experience.

Throughout the storm, while using social media:

Use the traffic hashtag: The Iowa DOT is using the hastag #iatraffic during this event and recommends that other Twitter users do the same to find relevant tweets using that key phrase.

Geotag photos and video: All smartphones have global positioning systems because of enhanced 911 service. If you are a social media user who likes to share photos and video during winter storms, be sure the geotagging feature on your mobile device is enabled. Then the location of where your photo or video was taken will be tagged.

Follow us: All traffic-related news releases and traffic incident reports are posted on the Iowa DOT’s Twitter accounts. Search for either @iowadot or @statewide511.

Tell us what you are seeing: Your information could be invaluable to others who are considering travel. You can also be another set of eyes for the Iowa DOT. When posting to Twitter reference @iowadot in your post. Tag us in your posts and photos on Facebook.

The Iowa DOT will be monitoring social media conversation during this event and using the public’s observations to help direct resources to problem areas. Being part of the traffic information social media network, as either a follower or contributor, enhances everyone’s safety.

The Iowa Department of Transportation’s road weather information system is presently reporting wind gusts in the mid 30s; and sustained winds from 15-25 mph. WeatherView is available to the public at http://weatherview.iowadot.gov/; it offers valuable travel information like pavement temperatures, precipitation and wind speeds, as well as camera views.

The Iowa DOT’s traffic speed monitors are also indicating significant slowdowns and backups in the central and eastern parts of the state. Some temporary road blockages due to crashes or jackknifed vehicles have been reported this morning.

A National Weather Service winter storm warning remains in effect. If you must travel, put extra space between your vehicle and those ahead, ensure all passengers are wearing their seat belts and slow down for conditions.

Follow Iowa DOT on Twitter and get all the Iowa DOT’s news and active traffic incident reports. Search for @iowadot or @statewide511.

Be part of Iowa’s traffic information social media network. Help others by sharing your travel experience, photos and video. Use the hashtag #iatraffic and mention @iowadot in your posts.

Iowans Waking Up to Snow-Covered Roadways

AMES, Iowa – Jan. 30, 2013; 5:15 a.m. update – The Iowa Department of Transportation is reporting that roadways are partially or completely covered with a mix of snow and ice. All but the far southeast and northeast corners of the state are affected at this time.

Iowa DOT road crews will be working around-the-clock today, as long as conditions. But travel will be hampered by continued precipitation and high winds this morning. The Iowa DOT's road weather information system is reporting wind gusts as high as 38 mph. Visibilities may be reduced at times. Precipitation is falling in all but the northeast corner of Iowa.

A winter storm warning remains in effect for a significant portion of the state. East central Iowa is now forecast to receive the heaviest snowfall totals, around 5 inches.

Check Iowa road conditions before traveling today by visiting http://www.511ia.org, calling 511 in Iowa or 800-288-1047 nationwide; the website also offers details on how to get traffic information via Twitter, Facebook or your mobile device.

Iowa DOT Issues Travel Advisory for Impending Storm

AMES, Iowa – Jan. 29, 2013; 3 p.m. update – A severe weather event is forecast for this evening into Wednesday. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning affecting a significant portion of the state. Between 4 to 6 inches of snow is predicted, with locally higher amounts possible.

The Iowa Department of Tranpsortation is advising travelers to take necessary preparations for this event, including making sure a winter survival kit or emergency supplies are stowed in their vehicles with sufficient resources for all passengers. A mobile phone should also be carried in your vehicle for emergency use only. Don’t talk, take photos/video or text while driving.

Potential travel hazards with this event include:

Heavy snow.

Increasing wind speeds through the evening/overnight hours, which may reduce visibilities at times.

A transition period between when the rain starts to freeze and it turns to all snow, leading to accumulating ice, especially on ramps, bridges and overpasses that have colder surface temperatures.

Downed power lines or poles on roadways due to accumulating ice.

Warm initial roadway surface temperatures that will allow falling snow to melt and then refreeze or become packed on the roads in heavily traveled areas.

Be part of Iowa’s traffic information social network

Use the traffic hashtag: The Iowa DOT will be using the hastag #iatraffic during this event and recommends that other Twitter users do the same to find relevant Tweets using that key phrase.

Geotag photos and video: All smartphones have GPS because of enhanced 911 service. If you are a social media user who likes to share photos and video during winter storms, be sure your geotagging is enabled on your mobile device. Then the location of where your photo or video was taken will be tagged. Geotagging helps the Iowa DOT and travelers stay informed about traffic incidents and road conditions based on citizen observations.

Follow us: All traffic-related news releases and traffic incident reports are posted on the Iowa DOT’s Twitter accounts. Search for either @iowadot or @statewide511.

Tell us what you are seeing: Your information could be invaluable to others who are considering travel. You can also be another set of eyes for the Iowa DOT. When posting to Twitter reference @iowadot in your post. Tag us in your posts and photos on Facebook.

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National Weather Service Winter Storm Warning

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
328 PM CST WED JAN 30 2013
IAZ040>042-051>054-063>068-076>078-087>089-098-099-ILZ001-002-007-
009-015>018-024>026-034-035-MOZ009-010-311030-
BUCHANAN-DELAWARE-DUBUQUE-BENTON-LINN-JONES-JACKSON-IOWA-JOHNSON-
CEDAR-CLINTON-MUSCATINE-SCOTT-KEOKUK-WASHINGTON-LOUISA-JEFFERSON-
HENRY IA-DES MOINES-VAN BUREN-LEE-JO DAVIESS-STEPHENSON-CARROLL-
WHITESIDE-ROCK ISLAND-HENRY IL-BUREAU-PUTNAM-MERCER-HENDERSON-
WARREN-HANCOCK-MCDONOUGH-SCOTLAND-CLARK-
328 PM CST WED JAN 30 2013
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL
ILLINOIS...NORTHWEST ILLINOIS...WEST CENTRAL ILLINOIS...EAST
CENTRAL IOWA...NORTHEAST IOWA...SOUTHEAST IOWA AND NORTHEAST
MISSOURI.
.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT
WINTER STORM WARNINGS AND WINTER WEATHER ADVISORIES REMAIN IN EFFECT
FOR PARTS OF THE AREA UNTIL 6 PM CST. PLEASE REFER TO OUR WINTER
WEATHER PRODUCTS FOR SPECIFIC DETAILS.
ACCUMULATING SNOW WILL CONTINUE TO TAPER OFF TO FLURRIES LATE THIS
AFTERNOON. DESPITE THE SNOW DIMINISHING... STRONG GUSTY NORTHWEST
WINDS AT 20 TO 35 MPH WILL LINGER AND PRODUCE BLOWING AND DRIFTING
OF THE SNOW INTO THIS EVENING... WHICH WILL REDUCE VISIBILITIES TO
ONE MILE OR LESS ESPECIALLY IN OPEN OR RURAL AREAS. THESE WINDS
WILL ALSO MAKE SNOW REMOVAL DIFFICULT. IN ADDITION TO THE
LOW VISIBILITIES... MANY ROADS ESPECIALLY SECONDARY ROADWAYS AND
BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES... WILL BE COATED IN A THIN LAYER OF ICE.
THE COMBINATION OF THE LOW VISIBILITIES AND ICY ROADWAYS WILL MAKE
FOR HAZARDOUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS INTO THIS EVENING.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY
ARCTIC HIGH PRESSURE WILL SETTLE ACROSS THE AREA THURSDAY NIGHT INTO
FRIDAY BRINGING BITTER AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS COLD TO THE REGION.
WIND CHILL ADVISORIES OR WARNINGS WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED FOR PORTIONS
OF THE OUTLOOK AREA FOR THURSDAY NIGHT INTO FRIDAY MORNING.
A STORM SYSTEM WILL MOVE THROUGH THE AREA FRIDAY NIGHT AND
SATURDAY. LIGHT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED FROM THIS STORM.
.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON OR TONIGHT.
HOWEVER... REPORTS OF STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL AMOUNTS GREATER THAN ONE
INCH...AND ANY LOW VISIBILITIES WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

Winter Storm Warning

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
1112 AM CST WED JAN 30 2013
...SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW TO CONTINUE THIS AFTERNOON...
.A LOW PRESSURE STORM SYSTEM WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE INTO THE GREAT
LAKES THIS AFTERNOON. AS IT DOES...IT WILL CONTINUE TO PRODUCE
SNOW AND BRISK NORTHWEST WINDS ACROSS THE AREA. ADDITIONAL SNOWFALL
OF 1 TO 2 INCHES WILL OCCUR ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE AREA THIS
AFTERNOON... WHILE NORTHWEST WINDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP
TO 35 MPH PRODUCE BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW. VISIBILITIES WILL BE
REDUCED DOWN TO A HALF MILE OR A QUARTER MILE AT TIMES IN RURAL
AND OPEN AREAS THAT HAVE RECEIVED OVER 3 INCHES OF SNOW.
IAZ040-041-051-052-063-064-076-077-087-310000-
/O.CON.KDVN.WS.W.0001.000000T0000Z-130131T0000Z/
BUCHANAN-DELAWARE-BENTON-LINN-IOWA-JOHNSON-KEOKUK-WASHINGTON-
JEFFERSON-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...INDEPENDENCE...MANCHESTER...VINTON...
CEDAR RAPIDS...MARENGO...IOWA CITY...SIGOURNEY...WASHINGTON...
FAIRFIELD
1112 AM CST WED JAN 30 2013
...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS
EVENING...
* TIMING...ACCUMULATING SNOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE AFTERNOON.
* ADDITIONAL SNOWFALL OF 1 TO 2 INCHES THIS AFTERNOON FOR TOTAL
SNOW ACCUMULATIONS...4 TO 7 INCHES.
* WINDS...NORTHWEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH.
* VISIBILITIES...AS LOW AS 1/4 MILE AT TIMES IN SNOW AND BLOWING
SNOW...ESPECIALLY IN RURAL AND OPEN AREAS.
* TEMPERATURES...FALLING TO AROUND 20 BY SUNSET.
* WIND CHILL READINGS...DROPPING TO AROUND ZERO.
* IMPACTS...TRAVEL WILL CONTINUE TO BE VERY HAZARDOUS THIS AFTERNOON.
WET SURFACES AND INITIALLY MELTING SNOW HAS FROZEN ON ROADS AND
PRODUCED A LAYER OF ICE ADDING TO THE HAZARDOUS TRAVEL
CONDITIONS.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. THIS WILL MAKE TRAVEL VERY DANGEROUS OR
IMPOSSIBLE...SO ONLY TRAVEL IN AN EMERGENCY AND TAKE YOUR WINTER
SURVIVAL KIT.
&&

Winter Storm Warning

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
355 AM CST WED JAN 30 2013
...ACCUMULATING SNOW EXPECTED TODAY...
.LOW PRESSURE MOVING UP ALONG THE COLD FRONT WILL PULL COLD AIR
INTO THE AREA...TURNING THE RAIN TO SNOW. ACCUMULATING SNOW IS
EXPECTED DURING THE DAY WITH STRONG WINDS DEVELOPING AS THE LOW
MOVES INTO THE GREAT LAKES.
IAZ040-041-051-052-063-064-076-077-087-301800-
/O.CON.KDVN.WS.W.0001.000000T0000Z-130131T0000Z/
BUCHANAN-DELAWARE-BENTON-LINN-IOWA-JOHNSON-KEOKUK-WASHINGTON-
JEFFERSON-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...INDEPENDENCE...MANCHESTER...VINTON...
CEDAR RAPIDS...MARENGO...IOWA CITY...SIGOURNEY...WASHINGTON...
FAIRFIELD
355 AM CST WED JAN 30 2013
...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS
EVENING...
* TIMING...ACCUMULATING SNOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE AFTERNOON.
* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS...4 TO 7 INCHES.
* WINDS...NORTHWEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH.
* VISIBILITIES...AS LOW AS 1/4 MILE AT TIMES IN SNOW AND BLOWING
SNOW.
* TEMPERATURES...FALLING TO AROUND 20 BY LATE AFTERNOON.
* WIND CHILL READINGS...DROPPING TO AROUND ZERO.
* IMPACTS...TRAVEL MAY BECOME VERY HAZARDOUS TODAY.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. THIS WILL MAKE TRAVEL VERY DANGEROUS OR
IMPOSSIBLE...SO ONLY TRAVEL IN AN EMERGENCY AND TAKE YOUR WINTER
SURVIVAL KIT.